What is your preferred way of maintaining the edge on your spydercos?

Just watched a couple videos on the Lansky sharpener...that thing looks like a hell of a bargain especially when you tack on the strop and polishing hone and stand for an extra 30-40 bucks. $80.00 for a good guided sharpening system seems like a good deal. I think I'll buy this down the line.
 
Plain Jane

SHARPMAKER.

I have had mine for over 20yrs. Simple... Always works
 
I am new to the sharpmaker. How come some people stop after the brown stones? Just curious.
 
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midmo said:
I am new to the sharpmaker. How come some people stop after the brown stones? Just curious.
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For me it depends on its use and type of steel.

I don't always need a Hair popping edge.
 
Sharpmaker looks really easy. I think maybe I'll skip the lansky and go for that. When you switch to the flat side of the rod are you sharping with the knife vertical down one side then flatter down the other side? Or does the knife just stay vertical with every pass on every stone? What are the metal rods for?
 
dkblade said:
Sharpmaker looks really easy. I think maybe I'll skip the lansky and go for that. When you switch to the flat side of the rod are you sharping with the knife vertical down one side then flatter down the other side? Or does the knife just stay vertical with every pass on every stone? What are the metal rods for?
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Watch the DVD that comes with the Sharpmaker. It's also on YouTube.

One thing I do differently tho is I don't use the corners at all. Just the flats. It's too easy to round off the tip when using the corners. You keep the knife vertical for every pass on both sides. Always want to maintain the same angle. It's also important to use very light pressure for the last several passes, no matter if you're using Sharpmaker, Lansky, or whatever. The brass rods are to keep you from accidentally cutting your hand off while sharpening. It's all explained in the video.
 
I like the SM for maintenance. Far too many people think they're maintaining an edge when they're really re-profiling it on the SM. A number of my knives have been sharpened enough to need some extra work, though, so I've picked up some stones and am going to give that a try (will still use the SM for regular maintenance).
 
midmo said:
I am new to the sharpmaker. How come some people stop after the brown stones? Just curious.
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You stop when it's sharp enough for you. ;)

The SM's brown stones are 'Medium' and are about 15microns/900grit. That would be considered 'Fine' for some.
 
Yes, hopefully in the future they will add an option to get the CBN + Med as a package, or CBN + Fine. The Med + Fine in my opinion is incomplete if you do have to reprofile.
 
I picked up an Edge Pro Apex with a set of Chosera stones, and I love it.
I also have a SharpMaker, and a Darex WorkSharp Ken Onion and several stops and various compounds.

The EPA is by far the best way to sharpen MOST folders.
The WSKO is by far the best way to sharpen large fixed blades.

The stops are fantastic for maintaining your edges from the EPA. All in all, I rarely use the SharpMaker, but it sees a little action here and there, but mostly just touch-ups beyond what the strop will do quickly.
 
Standard grind knives with flats, Lansky since it first appeared, and use finest first and only go up if required, then back down, and as with all knives, strop off wire edge and polish using red rouge on a thin smooth hard cardboard such a cereal box or tablet backer....edge angle always as set at factory, adjusted so by seating depth clamp to edge as much as by any angles marked on gizmos...
 
Coarser grit edge grabs and cuts while too smooth may not grab and bite....depends on job....hair and soft tomato or carpet and cardboard....
 
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